If the season ended today, the Bengals would have the fifth pick in the April draft.

        San Diego, 1-14, would get the top selection. The next three would be Cleveland (3-13), Atlanta (3-12) and Arizona (3-12).

        The Bengals are 4-11. Chicago, also 4-11, would draft sixth. The Bears played teams with a stronger combined winning percentage in 1999, .520, than the Bengals, .500. The NFL uses strength of schedule as its tie-breaking method for draft order.

        The Bengals could take one of two defensive ends, Andre Carter of California or Jamal Reynolds of Florida State. Another possibilityis offensive tackle Leonard Davis of Texas. QB COMPARISON: Bengals quarterbacks Scott Mitchell and Akili Smith have five touchdown passes, 13 interceptions and 2,036 yards for a passer rating of 50.9.

        Opposing quarterbacks have thrown for 3,532 yards, 25 touchdowns and eight interceptions for a 91.0 passer rating.

        The Bengals have allowed 50 sacks. The Bengals have 24 sacks on defense. MOTIVATION: The Eagles, who play host Sunday to the Bengals in Philadelphia, have to win to have any chance to have a home playoff game.

        POINTS: The Bengals have scored 178 points and need to score 10 points to better the single-season franchise low of 187, set in 1993.

        Cincinnati has given up 343 points.

        HOME SWEET HOME: Corey Dillon's 76 yards rushing gave him 967 in eight games at Paul Brown Stadium. He averaged six yards a carry.

        On the road, Dillon has 429 yards on 137 carries, an average of 3.1 yards.

        SHELL SHOCK: The Bengals' fourth victory came at the expense of Jacksonville, 17-14. As it did after Cincinnati's victory against Denver, the losing team took it hard.

        Here's a sampling of what from Gene Frenette's columnist in for the Jacksonville Times-Union on Monday:

        “On the NFL embarrassment scale, it doesn't get much worse than this. Even in the Jaguars' 1995 expansion season, when they absorbed that 44-0 shellacking at Detroit for their seventh consecutive loss, the shame didn't cut this deep.

        “But on top of all those inexcusable, horrible game conditions Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium, the Jaguars added the most undignified moment of their tumultuous season: They threw the lowly Cincinnati Bengals a bone in the form of a bizarre 17-14 victory.”

        Here's what Jaguars running back Fred Taylor told the Times-Union: “Not only did we lose, but my friends will joke on me for losing to the Bengals. When you think of the Bengals, you think of the Bad News Bengals. To lose to them, it's not a good feeling.”
       INJURY REPORT: For the Philadelphia game, linebacker Adrian Ross (hand) is questionable. Cornerback Robert Bean (knee), running back Curtis Keaton (ankle), fullback Clif Groce (knee) and defensive tackle John Copeland (calf) are doubtful.

No word, no worries for LeBeau Warrick's TDs put him in record book Bengals would draft fifth

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